About the Natural Products Association

Founded in 1936, the Natural Products Association is the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. NPA represents over 1,400 members accounting for more than 10,000 retail, manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution locations of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids. NPA unites a diverse membership, from the smallest health food store to the largest dietary supplement manufacturer.

NPA is recognized for its strong lobbying presence in Washington, D.C., where it serves as the industry watchdog on regulatory and legislative issues. In 1994, NPA played a key role in the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). This important legislation strikes a balance between the need for consumers to have access to and information about safe and effective dietary supplements while also preserving the government's interest in protecting the public from unsafe products and false and misleading claims.

NPA also has five regional offices located throughout the United States and is governed by a 22-member board of directors representing all segments of the industry.

What are natural products?
Natural products are represented by a wide array of consumer goods that grow in popularity each year. These products include natural and organic foods, dietary supplements, pet foods, health and beauty products, "green" cleaning supplies and more. Generally, natural products are considered those formulated without artificial ingredients and that are minimally processed.

How are natural products regulated?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets standards for use of the term "natural" for meat and poultry. The agency also regulates use of the term "organic" under the Organic Foods Production Act. While the Food and Drug Administration does not have a formal definition for the term natural, the agency has not objected to its use on food labels provided they are truthful and not misleading.

Natural Facts

In 2010, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, sales of natural products grew 6 percent to $117 billion. Below are additional statistics from 2010 regarding natural products: